From Wikipedia:Greenwashing (a portmanteau of “green” and “whitewash”) is a term describing the deceptive use of green PR or green marketing in order to promote a misleading perception that a company’s policies or products (such as goods or services) are environmentally friendly.
PNC prides itself on being the “greenest bank in the business” and last week further contributed to that delusion by opening a new “green” certified building as their regional HQ in Washington D.C.
Containing a “15,000 square-foot Eco-Skygarden covering half of the 12-story building’s roof” and “a three-story ‘climate wall’ of constantly falling water, which controls temperature and humidity in the lobby” the building is PNC’s latest big greenwash.
Why is this an exercise in greenwashing? Because, PNC is the largest funder of mountaintop removal in the U.S. They gave over $130 million to six of the eight largest mountaintop removal coal companies.
Early last week, Rainforest Action Network, Rev. Billy, the Earth Quaker Action Team and many others did a sit-in at PNC’s flagship branch in Washington D.C. during Appalachia Rising.
Look for more as we amp up our campaign against them and be sure to tell the CEO James Rohr what you think about his bank’s policies.